29 replies to this topic

[Black.Ghost]

Well I finally got to drive the Focus properly yesterday, after it passed its MOT. I took it to Leeds, from Kent, taking my little brother back up to Uni and then back down to Bedfordshire so covered a good distance - over 400 miles. 

 

I am a big fan of the MG-Rover, but the Focus is an all round better car in every way that you might want. Its more solidly built, everything from the locks sounding more robust when you use the remote, to the engine and stability of the car at motorway speeds. The quality genuinely seems far superior (all be it this is comparing a poverty spec 1.4 83bhp Rover 25 to the 1.8 Zetec, so the performance aspects aren't a fair comparison). Also the Zetec means a few of the comforts inside you wouldn't expect to find on the Rover either. But overall, a much better car. 

 

When you get up to 70mph, the Focus feels very stable and controlled, so much so that you really have to keep an eye on your speed. If you creep a bit above 70 in the Rover, it doesn't feel like you can push it too much more whereas the Focus feels like it will handle whatever you want, within reason. Also, the audio controls and cup holders are a nice touch! I know the Rover had audio controls on some models, but they were for volume only. On the Focus, you can cycle radio and CD, change the station or track and the volume - a very small and insignificant detail to most, but a touch I quite like. Only the ZT/Rover 75 has the more comprehensive audio controls, but the wheel is bigger and will not fit comfortably in the Rover 25 (I tried!)

 

I will still end up getting rid of both of them to get a MINI Clubman in a few months or so, but I am seriously tempted to keep the Focus until then rather than the Rover. 

 

Having said all that, the loose-ness and less controlled demeanour of the 25 means its actually got more personality that the Ford, which although highly capable is rather dull and boring. I would like to see what the RS is really like.

[Badboytunes]

Sell the Rover. The Focus is a much better car.

[Chance]

You said it in your last sentence for me

Focus is dull and boring...i drove the works brand new focus diesel and it was awful, to me anyway...all very numb.

Rovers have character..much rather drive my metro

Edited by Chance, 10 August 2014 - 04:27 PM.

[Black.Ghost]

I am all for keeping the Rover but It needs a little money spent on it whereas the Focus needs minor adjustments. Also, while I completely agree driving should be fun, the commute to and from work each day is really quite dull so the Focus makes more sense.

[Chance]

Nah of course it makes sense if you are going to replace it anyway

Rovers require a certain tolerance I find... Drive in fear of the temperature gauge

Will the MINI clubman be a cooper s?

[Black.Ghost]

Well I drove the Rover back from Kent last night. I think he read what I wrote because I seemed to enjoy it a bit more. And it was decent fun through the back roads before getting on the motorways.

As for the Clubman, would love a Cooper S but that will probably be out of budget. Part of the reason for sticking with a Cooper was the gf wants to be added to insurance and it gets silly for a Cooper S.

I'm in a hire car today for a work trip - a 2.0TDi all track Passat estate. Nice enough but not used to these new cars and the pedals are very sensitive so a bit jumpy to start with. Not worth the 29k though! Think what else you could spend that on. You could have a decent track use car, and a couple of other nice cars, a mini and run the lot for a year for that!

[The Matt]

My missus had a Focus, hers was a 1999 1.8 Zetec.

 

She bought it in 2001 with about 25k on the clock and we sold it about a year ago with about 140k on the clock.  It was an amazing car all around.  It wasn't the most fun car on the planet, I was surprised by how much they rust, we only had one problem with it and that was a cam belt tensioner failing at 100k.  It slipped the timing a few teeth and bent all of the exhaust valves so I rebuilt the head in it and it was as good as new.

 

One hell of a car, probably one of the best every day cars we've had in a long time really and we've had a few between us.

 

Seriously decent car for the money if they've been looked after.

As for the 25.  They're really not a car I like at all.  But it's just a personal taste thing.  I find them a little small, tinny and rattly (yeah, I know how daft that is coming from a Mini fan).

[Mk1Dave]

Easy. Keep the rover. No front wheel drive ford is worth keeping

[Black.Ghost]

In all honesty, the Focus is better in pretty much every way. The ideal solution for me would be sell the Focus, use the money for 160VVC engine swap, upgrade the brakes and suspension, and fix the little things wrong with the car. However, economically, that is a stupid decision so I won't do it. 

 

I think I will just put them both up for sale at a little more than I would be happy for each. Whichever sells first, I'll keep the other one! All I can guarantee is that whichever one I keep, something major will go wrong and I'll be faced with a huge bill for something!

 

Probably should just get an E46 Estate with the money and leave it at that. Bigger, useful, nice cars. A bit more expensive if they go wrong though. 

 

I thought I would edit this instead of bringing it back to the top of the page. 

 

I have been driving the Focus for a couple of weeks now, and I have to say it is definitely a better car and I think I will probably end up keep it, at least for a while. There are a couple of little issues I need to sort, but at around £300 for the car, a new battery, new suspension, new brakes pads, and the MOT for a car that has just clocked 70K and is in good condition, I can't really complain.

 

So while I am a fan of the Rovers, and the 25 is a much better looking car than the Focus, I think the rover will be sold - probably broken given the number of things that need doing to it. It would barely make 150 as a complete car!  A shame really but there isn't really much point trying to do much else with it. 

Edited by Black.Ghost, 29 August 2014 - 02:15 PM.

[surfblue]

Only driven 1 of each years ago.

1.1 Rover 200, totally gutless!

1.6 Focus, ok but instantly forgetable and boring.

Drive what ever is best / more relable.

 

VW Golf gets my vote!

[Tamworthbay]

Which do you like most? I drove a few focus's after reading all the amazing reviews. I hated every one. The drive is awful to me. I would rather a ten year old Kia than a focus, but that's me. Forget what reviews and any 'car of the year' crap says (it's well known to vote for boring middle of the road cars due to the voting system anyway), go for the one that you like most. If it comes down to cup holders, buy one for a quid from eBay.

[samsfern]

Rover 25! The only difference between the 83bhp and 103bhp is the throttle body doesn't open fully on the 83bhp. If you can get one off a 1.4 mgzr, along with the throttle cable, and swap them over, real easy job, you'll notice a difference. As for the suspension, when I had my last rover 25, I swapped the suspension for mgzr shock absorbers and springs, made a fantastic improvement and lowered it slightly, the zr suspension parts cost me £80 from a breakers yard. I'd love another one, but for some reason I prefer my 07 fiesta zetec s at the moment, lol.

[Black.Ghost]

Well I have had a chance to drive the Focus around for a bit now. Its not a bad car by any means, it's no fun though either. Its perfectly comfortable enough and quick enough for everyday use with no problems. The only issue I do have with it is that its not very good on the fuel. Might just be mine. There is a funny noise coming from the front passenger side when turning right only, so I need to investigate that this weekend. Other than that, there is nothing wrong with it really (other than no aerial meaning weak radio signal).

 

The Rover is by no means a huge improvement but it is a bit more fun, and it has a bit more character than the Focus. It is much better looking as well. Samsfern, I have the bits you refer to already (I picked them up cheap when I was getting some bits from the scrappy) however if you declare it, it bums the insurance up a bit and if you don't it will invalidate it as apparently it is one of the first thing they look for as they know so many people have done it. I also have ZR 160 suspension to go on if I so choose, and I did have the bigger brakes but sold those. I'd love a 180 ZS engine in it, with ZR suspension, a nice exhaust and bigger brakes, with heated leather seats (rare, but they do exist), and an upgraded stereo system (for quality, not volume). That would certainly surprise a few cars! But the reality is, I have the Mini for fun and too many other things to buy at the moment!

 

Given that the Rover is worth negative money, and the Focus is worth a few hundred, I have finally decided to sell the Focus. I will have a look at getting the Rover sorted over the next couple of weeks and then get it through its MOT and then flog the Focus. My girlfriend and I are probably going skiing in January, and I a few extra pounds to clear that off will be most welcome. It will just take a little time. No major jobs, but as I have car already and all I need to do is sell it by Christmas really, I have a bit of time. I am also applying for a couple of new jobs as well, and will be going on a course if they are not successful. The upshot of that is that it will be lots more money and so I might even get something else entirely. But for now, the plans for a MINI (Cooper S or Clubman) are on the back burner, the Focus will be shifted and I'll be a Rover fan boy again in no time! Part of me wants a ZT-T, but there are so many cars I want I can't make up my mind. 

 

Long live Rovers!

Edited by Black.Ghost, 23 September 2014 - 08:47 PM.

[skinnyminny]

Yay rovers!

[Black.Ghost]

I have just been looking the on the MG-Rover forum. I really want a ZR 160.